Wichita eagle., 1887-04-03
A NIGHTS LESSON.

hIIty I-au Deen 10 the cDal1ty Dali, ana The
charity ball was very fashionable; there was
no doubt about that. Kitty had eaten late
supper, returned home, gone to bed and to
sleep; there was no more doubt about that. She
recollected distinctly throwing one shoe under
the he'd and the other into a corner, saying
@good night" to her own figure in the looking
glass, twisting the figure Of butterfly till
her fingers ached, before she discovered that
it was not in the gas stopper, and then laugh
ing sleepily at all her mistakes. She even re-
membered the first dream of her sleep, which
was something about charity diamonds,
chicken salad lanciers, and ice cream waltzes.
No; there was no doubt that she had gone
all through this; yet there she was, staring in
at the window of the great ballroom, and the
ball was just commencing. Could she have
gone to sleep on the window sill in some mys-
FERROUS manners No; she was outside, and
standing in the cir with somebody holding
her hand.
"Oh deari' thought Kitty, mournfully; Il
must have drunk some wine, somehow How
strange it isl wonder how / came here?
But what cold hand holds mine; it's not
papa's, for it makes me shiver. He must be
horrid. ! won't look at him. Sof'
There did not seem to be much need Of the
ISSOlbt. UONcNtT, 1OT luo p6IeOu WHO ueiu
her hand did not move nor seem to care
whether she saw him or not, but quietly
looked in with her. So at last, like most
girls, Kitty-'s curiosity got the better Of her,
and she glanced out of the corners of her
eyes
Beside her she saw an old man. His beard
and hair were long and white, and dropped
about his neck and shoulders ike falling
l.;
crown, as OF frost work, so delicate was its
texture Robes long and dark, ard cold to
look at, fell in broad folds from his shoulders
and were Leld to his waist by a girdle OF
tw;nliing stars. lie was gazing in at the
brilliant asselnblage with a sad, melancholy
look upon his face.
Kitty looked at his robes GLOW very old
fashionedi' she thought; "and aged, very
agedI"
Eyes" murmured the old man, "old, very
old
Kitty started He read her thoughts evil
IDENTIFY. She was sorry now she had thought
it, be looked so sad
9IVho are you" asked Kitty. tinidly, "and
why have you brought me hereT
II am the Cold Night" said the old man,
slowly turning his eyes toward her his eyes
= y
"And l have brought you here that you
might see how great your charity is, for
heard this Was charity ball"
ayes" said Kitty, nervously.
II am friend to the poor" continued the
Gold Night; "and love to see charity" lie
looked back into the ballroom as he spoke.
"You see all your friends here?'
"Yes," said Kitty, Frightening up and
@There's I1orry Hall right before the Win
dow now She has those beautiful solitaire
diamonds in her ears Oh, dear, how bright
they look! wish had them"
ABut YOU have the handsomest dress" said
the Cold Night, sadly.
@Oh, yes" exclaimed Kitty, quickly. at
was of the richest silk, and cost several
hundred dollars. Papa was 30 kind"
@And it was bought for charity" asked the
Cold Night
"Why no." answered Kitty in surprise, 'for
me, of course"
1But the ball is for charitys"
Kitty began to be bewildered by SO much
criticising; and she was much relieved when
he led her away.
They descended to the grand entrance,
where he pointed out two little beggars, a boy
penny of the rich people descending from
the carriages.
@You passed than by tonight"
EYES," said Kitty; "but they were horrid
beggars." Tho Cold Night was silent, and
Kitty thought she might have said something
wrong; SO she added: 1and common street
fddlersn But the Cold Night said nothing
They both watched the little duo, "Tosey
n.I. A..
nearer to hea- what they would say. People,
rich with money and great in charity, care
ssily passed them by, for they were ragged
bcggars and fiddled and sang. It was cold,
very cold; and Tosey played very, very
slowly, while the breath Of Tibbys quivering
plant disappeared dospairingly in the frosty
air. The wheels of the carriages seemed to
creak in sympathy, as they crushed down the
snow Yes; it was cold indeed, yet they
fiddled and sang untiringly, while the rich
people alighted and passed Up the grand en-
trance after glancing oontemptuously at the
poor little duo, who fiddled and sang rs the
brilliant dresses disappeared in tie distant
doorway, but finally stopped as the last car
riage drove away.
II suppose we looks too awful" said Tosey,
wetting his lips, and feeling vacantly in the
161nai poChtb, WHICH. Nou AioNS, Uau uOG
jseen so much as a dime for many n day.
asYes," said libby, "but does feel so hungry,
land sang SO loud, and tried so hard, ard
r." libby slightly sobbed, and silently used
h small piece of her shawl to wipe large
itear.
/ sDon't cry" said Tosey, TREMENDOUSLY; @let's |
move on, and perhaps Wen find little some
Thin. Oh, if we only had few pennies!r |
Tosey took Tibby's hand, and they started to
move away
aOh, Mr.. Cold Night" exclaimed Kitty, |
borrowfully; "let me give them something, |
{poor little things"
GBut they are beggars," answered the Cold |
Night
II Kitty looked ashamed She could feel |
herself blush even though she was cold and |
{hivcring. The Cold Night handed her q
flver piece.
SYes," said he; drop it, even il it is
kasted See what they viii DO"
l Kitty took it quickly, and dropped it be-
ore them. Right at Tibby's foot fell the
honey, which she would have passed un-
soticed if Tosey had not exclaimed:
IN &Oh libby, there's a diner and picked
/ up.
i libby clapped her hands in delight. danced |
L b and down, and then looked into his hand |
. 5 see il it was really there It was surely.
.iGWont we have hot potato though said |
|slnsey.
ll~And big roll and butter, and some
+ bat; and just a very little piece of pie"